Anti-Doping Chief Calls Tiberias Affair Extremely Serious, Says Club Could Face Sanctions

The suspected doping case involving Hapoel Ironi Tiberias continues to shake Israeli sport, and the CEO of the National Anti-Doping Agency in Sport, Dr. Daniel Hartenstein, said on Sunday that it may be one of the most serious cases ever seen. Speaking to Sport Channel, he said it is “very serious on a global level” because it involves a club and a large number of people.

Hartenstein said the agency first learned of the matter from the media, then contacted the Israel Football Association to gather details and became involved in the case. Under the WADA code, he said, the agency will be the body that prosecutes the club. He added that direct charges are possible, with sanctions that could reach a four-year ban from sport, and that a club as a whole can be suspended, along with staff members and anyone involved, especially if the case proves systematic.

He also said a conviction does not require blood or urine tests, because forensic evidence can be enough. That can include material collected or analyzed during the investigation, including findings from around the club. He explained that anti-doping violations cover both the use and the administration of banned substances, not only a positive sample. He specifically cited IVs and saline, saying the use of more than 100 milliliters of saline in less than 12 hours is prohibited.

According to Hartenstein, saline can temporarily dilute the blood and interfere with doping tests, while WADA also maintains an anti-needle policy to prevent injections of substances into athletes. He said the same punishment applies whether the infusion involves stimulants, steroids, or other banned substances, and argued that this case is potentially even more serious because it may reflect clubwide conduct. He estimated the investigation will take at least several weeks, after which the agency will decide whether to hold a hearing or bring charges and publish its findings. He also urged athletes and staff to seek guidance on what is allowed and warned young Israeli athletes to understand what enters their bodies.